Top-ranked Gators face determined No. 5 Razorbacks
Gymnastics
Harold McIlvain
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Sports
Arkansas gymnastic co-head coach Rene Cook noticed a difference when the team arrived for its first practice.
The team had found an improved work ethic after a program-best season, and Cook said it has paid off so far.
"The team was extremely focused coming in early," Cook said. "We were really ahead of schedule almost all fall because they did such a good job during the off time. They knew after last year that we are close, but if we work a little harder and smarter, we can get that done."
And the team has done just that heading into Southeastern Conference play against No. 1 Florida at 7 p.m. in Barnhill Arena.
The No. 5 Razorbacks (2-1) couldn't have asked for a better start to the year, posting a program-best score to start a season.
The Razorbacks improved their score the following week but placed second in a road tri-meet, falling short by one-fortieth of a point.
But Cook said the valuable experience gained will help the team improve.
"I thought the girls did an outstanding job of staying focused and calm," Cook said. "And just to be in a meet that was a dogfight, it gave the team so much confidence in themselves as well as in each other. We are going to need that tenacity to be back at the national championship. And it was nice to see that this early in the season."
Florida (2-0, 1-0 SEC) is coming off a come-from-behind win against No. 4 Auburn, where the team won by one-fourth of a point. Florida has posted back-to-back performances of 196.500 points.
Cook said the team is looking forward to the challenge that Florida presents.
"They are a strong team," Cook said. "They have been one of the top teams in the conference for the last few years. We feel like if we do our job, we can go routine for routine with them. One of our goals has been to be a 196 team consistently. We have been pretty close in the first two meets. We have competed really well, and sometimes judging is judging: it's subjective."
The team had found an improved work ethic after a program-best season, and Cook said it has paid off so far.
"The team was extremely focused coming in early," Cook said. "We were really ahead of schedule almost all fall because they did such a good job during the off time. They knew after last year that we are close, but if we work a little harder and smarter, we can get that done."
And the team has done just that heading into Southeastern Conference play against No. 1 Florida at 7 p.m. in Barnhill Arena.
The No. 5 Razorbacks (2-1) couldn't have asked for a better start to the year, posting a program-best score to start a season.
The Razorbacks improved their score the following week but placed second in a road tri-meet, falling short by one-fortieth of a point.
But Cook said the valuable experience gained will help the team improve.
"I thought the girls did an outstanding job of staying focused and calm," Cook said. "And just to be in a meet that was a dogfight, it gave the team so much confidence in themselves as well as in each other. We are going to need that tenacity to be back at the national championship. And it was nice to see that this early in the season."
Florida (2-0, 1-0 SEC) is coming off a come-from-behind win against No. 4 Auburn, where the team won by one-fourth of a point. Florida has posted back-to-back performances of 196.500 points.
Cook said the team is looking forward to the challenge that Florida presents.
"They are a strong team," Cook said. "They have been one of the top teams in the conference for the last few years. We feel like if we do our job, we can go routine for routine with them. One of our goals has been to be a 196 team consistently. We have been pretty close in the first two meets. We have competed really well, and sometimes judging is judging: it's subjective."
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